SCENE 3. An xipartment at Isabella's.
{Enter Isabella, meeting Lucy.)
IsA. Speak ; is he yet in sight *? Lucy. No, madam.
IsA. Go,
! go again, good Lucy, and be swift When he appears. {Exit Lucy.) My
poor, poor boy ! my Charles — To be thus treated, and thy gentle heart So full of kindness to all living crea- tures : To have thy asjDirations after fame, Thus rudely scorn'd, thy youthful hopes
thus blighted ! But he deserves it not ; there 's comfort
yet,
And he may rise above it. — Not yet
come. He promis'd, and he would not break
his word. And to his mother, without serious
cause — The way is full of peril, and I Iviiow His temper shuns not danger. Gracious
Heav'n ! If I should lose him — him, the only
being —
{Enter Lucy, hastily.)
Now, Lucy, quick ! Lucy. Madam, he is in sight ;
And flj' ing up the avenue. ISA. Thank Heaven !
{Enter Charles.)
Charles. Mother !
IsA. My sou. {Falls into his arms.)
Charles. My. ever dearest mother !
ISA. O Charles, how could you thus delay your coming'?
The night was pass'd in watch. Charles. I gi-ieve to know it
I was benighted in the forest, mother.
And lost my way. ISA. Alas ! thou art spent with toil.
Charles. Not much.
IsA. Poor Charles: And so they
have expelled thee —
Expeird ! Charles. Nay, piy'thee let ns forget it. ISA. " Wretches !
I could have borne all else — but to dis- grace thee —
To spurn thee from them — thee ! I could endure
The daily persecutions that assail me
With patience and with firmness — But I
have the'e. Come, let us in: you need rest and re- freshment. You shall not leave me soon again, my
son — I am a child without you. Charles. {Aside.) My poor mother.
IsA. But let us in — Charles. I '11 follow you, my mother.
I will but give an order. {Exit Isabella.) Edward.
{Enter Edward.)
Edw. Sir.
Charles. Go, get my rapier ready, wrap it close, And some hour hence, not later, choose
a time. And speed with it to the wood, east of the
village. There wait my coming. Edw. Yes, sir.
Charles. But be sure
That no one see it. Edw. I '11 be careful, sir.
{Exit Edward.)
{Enter Isabella.)
ISA. Fve, sir; is this your breeding*? must
I wait? Charles. Forgive me, madam, I am ready
now. {Exeunt.)
END OP ACT TWO.
ACT THIRD.
Scene 1. An open Wood. {Enter Charles, followed hy Edward.)
Charles. Give me the sword; remain at
the edge of the wood; If any one approach, haste to inform me. {Exit Edward.) I am here first, 'tis well. My mother
thinks It is a softer interview I seek ; And while she cautioned me, her sad smile
seem'd To sanction what she fear'd. My dear,
kind mother. And should I fall — well : it would be my
fate. We are but barques npon the sea of life. And when the storm is up, we greet the
port,
